Khaby Lame Net Worth 2026: Silent Reaction King Sells Company for $975 Million

By Alison Rosen | January 25, 2026

Khaby Lame Net Worth 2026: Khaby Lame’s net worth is estimated at $80 million as of 2026, making him one of the wealthiest TikTok creators in the world. The Senegalese-Italian content creator just made headlines in January 2026 when his holding company, Step Distinctive Limited, was acquired by Rich Sparkle Holdings for a massive $975 million in stock.

However, unlike the headline suggests, Khaby doesn’t have $975 million in cash. The deal was completed entirely in stock, with Rich Sparkle issuing 75 million new shares valued at that price. The acquisition demonstrates the extraordinary value investors place on Khaby’s brand and digital presence.

Who Is Khaby Lame

Khabane Serigne “Khaby” Lame was born on March 9, 2000, in Senegal. When he was just one year old, his family relocated to Chivasso, Italy, near Turin, in search of better economic opportunities. They settled in public housing where he grew up among his three siblings.

Before becoming the world’s most-followed TikTok creator, Khaby worked as a CNC machine operator in a factory near Turin. When COVID-19 shut down Italy’s manufacturing sector in March 2020, he was laid off. Stuck at home during lockdown, he began posting videos on TikTok simply to pass the time.

Rise to Fame

Khaby’s path to global stardom came through a simple formula: silent reaction videos mocking overly complicated life hack tutorials. Using only facial expressions, exasperated hand gestures, and deadpan comedic timing, he would recreate the same task shown in the original video but in a much simpler way.

His approach was universal. Without spoken words, language barriers disappeared. His content appealed across cultures, age groups, and demographics. By April 2021, he surpassed Gianluca Vacchi as the most-followed Italian on TikTok. He subsequently surpassed Addison Rae to become the second most-followed personality on the platform overall.

As of 2026, he holds the title of the most-followed person on TikTok with over 162 million followers and 2.5 billion likes. Six of the 25 most-liked videos on TikTok are his.

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Annual Earnings and Income Streams

Khaby’s annual earnings are staggering. In 2022, his manager Alessandro Riggio revealed that Khaby earned up to $750,000 per sponsored TikTok post. That year alone, he banked $10 million. His earnings increased to $17 million in 2023.

Currently, Khaby earns between $20 to $40 million per year from his various endeavors combined. His monthly earnings are estimated between $400,000 and $750,000.

His income comes from multiple sources including TikTok monetization, brand sponsorships, merchandise sales, film appearances, and YouTube revenue from over 12 million subscribers.

Major Brand Deals

Khaby has secured partnerships with some of the world’s largest companies. In January 2022, he signed a multi-year partnership with Hugo Boss and was featured prominently in the #BeYourOwnBoss campaign. Hugo Boss later paid him $450,000 to appear in their Milan Fashion Week show.

Other major brand deals include partnerships with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Juventus FC, Xbox, Fortnite, Sony Pictures, Walmart (for his line of quirky cooking tools), Binance, and Dream11. In August 2023, he was added as a cosmetic outfit in Fortnite Battle Royale as part of the “Last Resort” battle pass.

Merchandise and Business Ventures

Khaby runs Khabyshop, his personal merchandise brand offering apparel and accessories to his global fanbase. His product line includes Khaby-branded items such as garlic presses, taco holders, watermelon cutters, popcorn makers, and candles sold through various retailers.

These merchandise sales contribute significantly to his overall wealth, with his product line generating millions annually.

Real Estate Holdings

Khaby owns luxury properties across multiple locations. His house in Chivasso, Italy, where he grew up, is valued at approximately $6 million. He also maintains residences in Los Angeles and Milan, including an apartment in Milan that he shares with his manager Alessandro Riggio.

His Los Angeles property features a swimming pool and tennis court, reflecting his successful transition from factory worker to global celebrity.

Entertainment and Film Career

Beyond TikTok, Khaby is establishing himself in mainstream entertainment. In September 2021, he attended the Venice Film Festival as a special guest for the premiere of Xavier Giannoli’s French film Lost Illusions.

He provided a voice cameo in the Italian-dubbed version of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). He made a brief, non-speaking cameo appearance in the 2024 action comedy film Bad Boys: Ride or Die, appearing alongside Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

On June 28, 2024, his unscripted comedy series Khaby Is Coming to America premiered on Tubi, showcasing his ambitions to break into Hollywood. He has publicly stated his dream is to star in movies and collaborate with his idol Will Smith.

In 2023, he served as a judge on the television show Italia’s Got Talent. In July 2025, he was named to the inaugural TIME100 Creators list, which recognizes 100 of the most influential digital creators from around the world.

The $975 Million Acquisition

In January 2026, Rich Sparkle Holdings entered into an agreement to acquire Khaby’s holding company, Step Distinctive Limited, for $975 million. The acquisition was confirmed through an SEC filing (Form 6-K) on January 9, 2026, and a press release published on January 11, 2026.

The deal includes provisions for the creation of an AI digital twin utilizing Khaby’s biometric data for global commercial content, suggesting future revenue opportunities from AI-generated content using his likeness.

However, the $975 million valuation doesn’t translate directly to cash in Khaby’s bank account. Rich Sparkle issued 75 million new shares valued at that price, making it an all-stock transaction. Khaby now holds a significant stake in Rich Sparkle Holdings (ticker: ANPA), a company that trades volatilely in the market.

Selective Brand Partnerships

Notably, Khaby is selective about which brands he partners with. In 2023, he stated his commitment to working clean: “I want to work clean. I’ve never worked with an alcohol company, cigarettes, or anything bad for you because a lot of kids follow me.”

This ethical stance has maintained his family-friendly brand image while allowing him to command premium rates from quality brands seeking association with his massive, younger demographic audience.

Immigration Incident and Legal Challenges

In 2025, Khaby was briefly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Las Vegas over a visa overstay issue. However, according to an ICE spokesperson, he was not deported but was allowed to leave the country voluntarily after being informed of his visa violation.

In May 2024, his marriage to Wendy Thembelihle Juel ended.

What Makes Khaby Different

According to journalists Taylor Lorenz and Jason Horowitz of The New York Times, Khaby’s success stems from his universal exasperated everyman quality. His rise to fame stands out because it was entirely organic, without traditional marketing or manufactured celebrity.

Samir Chaudry, founder of The Publish Press creator economy newsletter, attributes Khaby’s appeal to his emphasis on authenticity over production and not trying too hard. Christina Ferraz, founder of Thirty6Five marketing agency, noted: His exasperation is relatable, and feelings are universal.

Khaby himself has credited his popularity to his humorous facial expressions and his silence, which he describes as a way to reach as many people as possible across language and cultural barriers.

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From Factory Worker to Billionaire Valuation

Khaby’s journey represents one of the most remarkable rags to riches stories in the digital age. From being a factory worker earning modest wages in public housing to becoming the most-followed person on TikTok with an $80 million net worth and a company valued at nearly $1 billion demonstrates the transformative power of social media and authentic content creation.

His story continues to inspire aspiring creators worldwide, proving that you don’t need expensive production, spoken words, or industry connections to build a global brand worth hundreds of millions of dollars.